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D.C. lose, Spirit win & more: Monday Freedom Kicks
Hi there, so it’s first day at a new school for the oldest, so I’m a little distracted!
D.C. United outclassed by Mexico’s Pumas to end Leagues Cup group stage (WaPo): Eh, OK I guess? I laugh that they have to go up to Chester now after this half-arsed attempt.
Spirit prevails, 4-2, in comeback victory versus Gotham FC (Spirit): Good for them to right the ship.
D.C. United Announce the Permanent Transfer of Victor Palsson to K.A.S. Eupen (DC): The thing I don’t get about this is that he said getting closer to his wife (who was in Canada) was a reason for him coming back to MLS. So either things have soured with DC which is very possible or well…yeah! He started and played center back for the Pandas in their 2-2 draw with Griffin Yow’s Westerlo.
Comfortable in Mexican-American identity, Arriola thrilled for Leagues Cup chance (Leagues Cup): I hope Paul does well.
Julian Gressel drops by (Soccer Speakeasy): Happy for Juls to return to the Eastern Conference and pla for the Columbus Crew, dread he has a chip on his shoulder about his departure from same last year, but also tells me DC’s well-poisoning on this from the standpoint on how players in the league talk amongst each other, and it’s not promising!
A poignant note for a Loudoun player:
Then this bit of goodness:
And a well-deserved tribute by a nice kid:
Finally the trailer for the third and final season of HBO’s How to with John Wilson is out, with the first episode premiering Friday. I’ve adored this show and continue to do so, being blown away by how things unspool themselves in a half hour.
Australia knocked Canada out of the WWC.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/38103411/womens-world-cup-daily-matildas-send-canada-japan-cruise
Yeah the Gressel interview isn’t a great look for how the trade to Vancouver went down from Julian’s pov.
Gressel talked about it last year on the old Zee Soccer Podcast with Fabian Herbers. He was beyond pissed. No notice, was called into an office with Kasper, Rushton and Rooney at a table — told him he was traded to Vancouver. He then started to get calls from friends asking him about the trade before he could even call his wife. Just another low-class move from Dumpster Diving Dave. Stuff like this, the Taxi situation and Reade Whitney are just Snyderesque. DCU fans now have, without any serious competition, the worst ownership group in the DMV.
I agree that teams should treat these situations a little more carefully, in reference to trades, but Gressel’s is hardly the first of its kind, or the worst. I’ve heard of NFL guys who read about their trades on Twitter. Gressel at least had some sort of meeting. Personally, I’m tired of hearing about it.
Hatch’s brace of Buzzard Points sparks Spirit comeback 4-2 over Gotham FC … and reminds everyone why she should be in New Zealand. The tally to date:
Buzzard Points (home goals): Hatch, Rodman & Sanchez (3); Metayer (2); Biegalski, Ricketts, Sheva, Silano, Staab
Talones (home assists): Hatch (3); Bailey, Brooks, Metayer, Ricketts, Rodman, Silano, Tanner
Spirit match v Gotham started as another disaster in the making (like 0-6 loss vs Courage in previous match). Keeper Nicole Barnhart literally handed Gotham their first goal at 4 minutes. Back line marked nobody for header at 7 minutes. Gotham almost made it 0-3 at minute 13.
But Hatch’s well taken goal revived Spirit (and spirits) enough that many fans (including yours truly) waited out 1.75 hour monsoon break and were rewarded with remarkable comeback 4-2.
It could have been 5-2 if Staab’s 40-yard direct kick off crossbar had been an inch or two lower. I told seat partner Tom that Staab was going to go for it. It would have been her second 40 yarder goal of season.
BYW, Buzzard Point pitch seemed to drain remarkably well compared to match at RFK years ago that was left a lake and had to be abandoned.
Not sure if people saw, but Thomas Floyd reported after the game on Saturday that Rooney said he doesn’t anticipate Canouse participating in Leagues Cup due to a groin injury. I was wondering where he had been so good to get some clarification
I was wondering about Canouse too. In a way, the Leagues Cup break might be a blessing for the team, a lot injuries that may benefit from time off. Sure, they should field a competitive side against Philly (not the one that play against Pumas, please!) but it wouldn’t be the worst if we are eliminated after that game. And I really hope visa issues get worked out speedily for the newcomer(s). It would be great if they can get a week or two of training with their teammates before league games restart.
I’d also like for the Taxi situation to be dealt with before we restart league play. Preferably before the transfer window closes.
T-t-t-thomas Floyd
*oh yeah*
Sorry everyone, but OWFSS ruined me. I will never not hear that sound clip in my head when someone mentions his name.
Supposedly Beckham is now saying that Inter Miami has plans for a women’s team: https://theathletic.com/4726458/2023/07/28/david-beckham-inter-miami-womens-team/
No clarification as to whether NWSL or USL W-Leauge…which I think is USL’s top women’s league.
Hopefully both, with real investment towards being long term contenders.
Major League Rugby (MLR) expansion draft occurred several days ago: https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2023/07/29/miami-sharks-select-25-players-in-mlr-expansion-draft/
OGDC lost 2 players to the Miami Sharks in the draft. Quentin Newcomer (American) (Tighthead/Loosehead Prop) who has been a regular in the matchday 23 and saw lots of minutes last season. Additionally, we lost Api Naikatini (Lock, aka Second-Rower) from Fiji.
Also over the weekend the US Men’s U-20 Eagles finished their Junior World Trophy with a dominant 47-22 win over Hong Kong in the 7th place game. It was their final game of the Junior World trophy, which is the 2nd tier junior rugby tournament below the Junior World Cup (JWC). The winner of the Junior World Trophy gets promoted into the next edition of the Junior World Cup while the lowest placed team overall in the JWC gets relegated to the next edition of the JWT. Both the JWC and JWT are U-20 competitions.
https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2023/07/30/usa-u20s-spring-to-life-with-big-win-over-hong-kong/
Lucas Zelarayan, who always seemed to score a goal or two whenever Columbus played DC, has been sold to Saudi Arabia.
If the Saudis want to take a nice long look at Carles Gil and Gustavo Bou too, I’d be okay with that.
Very funny
Crazy news. I’m interested to see what the fee was. Happened so quick that I’m guessing it was a huge-ish fee.
Julian Gressel won’t be getting any assists passing to Zelayaran. The team in Saudi that is buying Z’s contract isn’t one of the Big 4 backed financially by MBS’ investment fund but my guess is that they do have plenty more cash available than a typical MLS team.
Brendan wonders if a team over there would interested in Gil or Bou. I was wondering if anyone over there might want to take a $hot at buying a slightly used Taxi….
Sorry, can’t figure out how to edit my response for some reason.
Here’s the link to MLS site’s story:
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/columbus-crew-transfer-lucas-zelarayan-to-saudi-pro-league
And, my comment seems to have jumped in line over Talonesque’s which was praising Brendan’s comic skills, not mine.
Speaking of the Saudi league, I’m just very surprised that players like Sadio Mane may end up playing there. CR7 wasn’t a surprise, he burnt his bridges on his way out of ManU and was not going to get interest from any strong European club. He went for the money and given his former legal issues in the States he probably thought it wise not to play here. But Mane is 31 and could still contribute in the right European team. Is it just for the money? Do players really think that the Saudi league will succeed?
With Mane, he and Bayern desperately want out from each other, and it works out well financially for both sides. As for all the other in-their-prime guys…even for multimillionaires I guess money is too hard to pass up. You should see how mad Liverpool supporters are about Henderson.
Henderson is going to the Saudis? He had been at Liverpool forever, hadn’t he? This is why some times I appreciate someone like Tevez who was like “Thanks, Juve, but I made a promise to Boca and I’ll keep it.” It wasn’t for the money for him, just love for a club. But the Saudis are buying everything in sports right now, wonder when they’ll start to get their hands on the NFL or NBA.
Anyone else seeing a distinct possibility the US doesn’t get past the next round?
Well, that was quite ugly (I’m referring to the result). Frankly, it probably would have been better for the US for that shot at the end that bounced off the post to instead go in. That would have been a huge wake-up call about the state of the USWNT. Instead, they’re now in the knock-outs. I can see a scenario where they win a match, maybe lose on PKs in quarters and then the rationale is “well, it’s just the coach” and Vlatko leaves and they keep on doing what they’re doing, the commitment to a 433 (but maybe switch in Ertz).
The reality is that England, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, and Japan are better than the US technically right now. And probably better tactically–when people flood the midfield the US Women don’t have answers. And people foolishly think we just need to play Ertz at D-mid we’ve solved “the issue”. If we’re going to play a 433, we need to find ways to add more bodies to midfield and then tactically exploit the bodies the other team has put there.
Additionally, for the longest time we’ve claimed that the NWSL is the best women’s league in the world. I don’t know if that’s true now. It may be the most balanced league. But playing for Lyon, Barcelona, Chelsea may give you a more competitive edge. The other top programs in the world (except for China and Japan) use their domestic leagues to create a strong national team. The US has tended to focus more on building the NT–we typically play more games, have longer camps for our WNT. When there was no strong league that made sense. But a club team that has 7-8 months together has more impact on technical ability and tactical savvy than having a longer NT camp.
I hate to sound so negative. And I wouldn’t put it past the USW to win 1 or 2 knockout round games–they’re deep, have talent, and tend to play on their front foot. That said, they’re not only poorly coached but they look like a side that just came together a few days ago (when instead they’ve been together more than a month).
They’ve looked listless and like they don’t have a plan the entire tourney so far. I agree that it would’ve been better if we’d missed the knockout stages. I don’t see us getting past Sweden if this is the way we are going to play.
I’m not so sure about Sweden. Here’s why I say that. Sweden plays the US tough–usually by using a low block, being compact and then hitting us on the counter. If they conclude the US is toothless (so far we have been) and come out attacking, it’s the USW who are countering. And we do have speed. In an open-field/counter situation, I like our chances. Against a compact defense we, uh, um, er, duh, hope for one of our 15 crosses to hit a US head that goes on target and the GK doesn’t touch.
Sweden will maul us. We allowed Portugal to look like a top 10 team (maybe they are). The era of North American dominance is over. If we lost (miracle we didn’t), we could have pooled money with Canada and booked a flight to Detroit or something.
The individual talent is not the overriding problem. It’s organizational, apparently systemic, and listening to a very frank and pissed Carly, she saw it coming and was vocal about it at retirement.
If the ladies can connect the dots a bit better and hit their shot opportunities, they may survive this and make a run. I hope they do, but I just don’t see leadership above Horan/Morgan (and a blazingly pissed O’Hara post-game) getting a lightening bolt of inspiration from the soccer gods.
Regarding the NWSL, coaching has been a big problem for a long time. We just had like, what, half the coaches banned or suspended for being misogynists or assholes? Players playing only in an environment of fear and anger aren’t going to develop their tactical accumen, they’re just going to try to survive.
That said, we have sufficiently technical players available to move the ball around and create chances. The tactical shortfalls of this coaching staff are what’s making us look so poor against teams we should be beating handily. It’s a team sport and we shouldn’t be so heavily reliant on having Lavelle and Horan will their way into winning us games. The players are not thinking or working together on the field, probably because the game plan is poor or not there.
I appreciate your take on NWSL coaching flavoring the systemic organizational dysfunction. Spot on.
Keeping the theme of DC United-adjacent people being suspended: Bruce Arena has been placed on administrative leave while the league investigates “insensitive and inappropriate remarks” that he made at some point. Not much more info than that at this point
Christ, he uses that to go on vacation every year…..
Not surprised in the slightest. He’s an old man. He’s definitely said (and likely has continued saying) offensive stuff. How offensive? Hard to say. He comes across as rude, but hardly a raving biggot. I hope it was stupid more than derogatory.
I have never thought of him as a bigot. He can terse and not funny when he thinks is with a smart-alec remark, but that’s really it.
I’m a little surprised there’s such little news right now. Transfer window closes tomorrow and all the other nonsense going on. It’s almost eerily quiet.
The DCU way.
At this point, I’m just sort of hoping it works out like the 2017 (I think?) summer window where we ended up getting Arriola, Canouse, and ZOLTAN all at the last minute and all completely out of left field
That was actually a pretty good window, wasn’t it?
And to be fair, I feel like there wasn’t much that window until literally the final day when we got those 3. Kinda like this window. So here’s hoping!
I think the Taxi situation is causing a lot of issues. Plus the uncertainty of how long Rooney stays maybe preventing players from wanting to commit. Plus…Dave Kasper is around….but he’s only really useful for the Byzantine intra-MLS acquisition shenanigans.
I think this is the root of my frustration. This was a temporary “project” from the start. Now DC is sitting in between “go for the playoffs” and “just wait so we can see what the next coach wants to do”. Maybe the next coach is on-staff but that doesn’t mean they won’t want to blow it all up for real this time.
Also, when is DC actually hiring a GM?? Remember when Kasper was relegated to a strictly advisory role? Even when this club says things are changing they clearly aren’t. It’s almost comical at this point. A real GM could’ve gotten some vision in already and started planning. Now DC will probably be behind in terms of hiring (again) and have this weird situation where the GM doesn’t hire the coach so it’s hard to tell what the power dynamic is.